No Eriksen? No Problem. Brentford has taken necessary steps in closing on securing a replacement for the 30-year-old Danish superstar this summer with countryman Mikkel Damsgaard.
Per reports from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Bees look set to push for a completed deal for Damsgaard, with the 22-year-old attacking midfielder high on the priority list for boss Thomas Frank after Brentford failed to extend Eriksen beyond his short-term contract before his move to Old Trafford.
Brentford are now closing on Mikkel Damsgaard deal. Fee expected to be around €15m with add-ons. Talks are progressing with Sampdoria, still in discussion on player side. 🚨🇩🇰 #BrentfordFC
Deal not fully completed yet but now Brentford are optimistic to get it over the line. pic.twitter.com/UESRgGIKh1
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2022
Damsgaard, who was one of the darlings of Euro 2021 under national team manager Kasper Hjulmand while helping De Rød-Hvide reach the semi-finals of the tournament before losing to finalist England in the semi-finals, would cost the club €15m (£12.5m) despite the FC Nordsjælland academy product having two years left on his deal in Genoa.
Despite his success with the national team and his breakout performances for Nordsjælland in 2019-20, things have not gone according to plan for the Jyllinge native, who has managed just two goals and six assists in 49 appearances for I Blucerchiati across two seasons.
There is still something about Damgaard as a young talent, however, with Frank keen to keep a Danish contingent at Brentford since his arrival in 2018.
🇮🇹 Manuel Locatelli, Sassuolo and Italy
🇩🇰 Mikkel Damsgaard and packing stats
🏴 Billy Gilmour’s perfect 90 minutes
🇪🇸 Pedri’s exciting, exponential riseJoin @JoeDonnohue and @FMAnalysis to recap some of the young standouts of UEFA EURO 2020 so far: https://t.co/ayAM9bUm7P pic.twitter.com/GErAEfeIHE
— Scouted Football (@scoutedftbl) June 26, 2021
At the time of writing, should the club finalize terms with Sampdoria, Damsgaard would replace Eriksen as the sixth Dane in the senior setup at Brentford Community Stadium after Mathias Jensen, Christian Nörgaard, Mads Roerslev Rasmussen, Mads Bech Sörensen, and Luka Racic.
Regardless of the additions that have already come in the door, Brentford still lacks genuine creative quality in the forward line and the absence of Eriksen was sure to be felt if a suitable replacement was not secured before the close of the transfer window.
With Ivan Toney still leading the forward line and wide pair Yoann Wisse and Bryan Mbeumo on either flank, Damsgaard – who is of a similar profile to Eriksen in terms of his qualities on and off the ball – could find joy under Frank this season should a deal be finalized.
